Increasing Oversight of the State Litigation Deposit Fund

Jan 28, 2021 - As shown in the figure below, the amount of money in the LDF at the end of the year has grown significantly over the past decade —reaching $ 633  m illion at the end of 2019 ‑20. This is because funds remain in the LDF until DOJ decides to make an allocation.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4322

Retail Theft in California: Looking Back at a Decade of Change

Jun 12, 2025 - Examples include taking police reports online or over the phone instead of in ‑person, issuing warnings instead of making arrests, or delaying planned arrests unless doing so would have jeopardized public safety.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5055

The 2025-26 Budget: Overview of the Governor's Budget

Jan 13, 2025 - The reason for the reduction is the recent voter approval of Proposition  35 (2024), which requires the state to spend less MCO tax money on offsetting General Fund spending and more money on provider rate increases.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4951

Assessing Community College Programs at State Prisons

Jul 1, 2024 - We did not hear the same level of challenges from colleges that provide instruction via correspondence education. Several Colleges Are Piloting Online Models That Appear Promising. With the recent distribution of laptops to students, community colleges and CDCR have an opportunity to rethink how instruction is delivered to students from a distance.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4913

The 2021-22 Budget: Initial Comments on the Governor’s May Revision

May 17, 2021 - Put another way, $12  billion  of spending in the May Revision is attributable to reserve withdrawals and borrowing from 2020 (see Figure  7). Figure 7 Governor Still Uses Budget Solutions Despite Historic Revenue Growth Budget Solutions From 2020 Maintained in 2021 May Revision (In Billions) Reserve Withdrawals Make Budget Stabilization Account withdrawal $7.8 Make Safety Net Reserve withdrawal 0.5
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4432

The 2025-26 California Spending Plan: Judiciary and Criminal Justice

Oct 24, 2025 - In addition, the budget package continues to include language —without a specific amount in the CDCR budget –that would allow the Department of Finance (DOF) to make payments from the General Fund for any fines related to staffing vacancies in the   Coleman v.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5085

The 2021-22 Budget: Initial Comments on the Governor’s May Revision

May 17, 2021 - The 2021-22 Budget: Initial Comments on the Governor’s May Revision $2,099 $510 Note: This reflects our best understanding as of May 15, 2021; however, we are still receiving information from the administration about these proposals.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4432/5

Addressing Chronic Vacancies in Prison Mental Health Care

Feb 23, 2026 - To the extent the mental health Receiver denies a plan to deactivate excess bed capacity, we recommend the Legislature request from the Receiver what criteria, threshold, or buffer the state would have to achieve in order to deactivate some, if not all, of the excess capacity and direct CDCR to make changes  accordingly.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5134

The 2023-24 Budget: Department of Justice Budget Proposals

Feb 23, 2023 - Little transparency on the level of resources available for transfer from the LDF to the General Fund, special funds, or other funds means the Legislature lacks the necessary information to determine what fiscal resources could be available as it makes budget decisions.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4701

The 2026-27 Budget: California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

Feb 23, 2026 - These staff have the option to either commute to offices —some of which are outside of prisons —or work from home if they are able to ensure patient privacy. CDCR provides tele ‑mental health services via live video by using specialized equipment.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5137